DAYS OF YORE

(Page 2 of 2)

John J. Uhlenkott
May/June 1966
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After that I devoted more of my time to saw-milling and lumber. I owned and operated saw-mills of my own and also for other operators. I started as a construction millwright in 1939 and worked at that off and on until 1942. Then I started to build saw-mills in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana.

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Now I am retired and have a good hobby shop in the basement of our home. I do mostly wood-working in there. However, I also do iron-working and designing of miniature steam engines and boilers. I have just finished a miniature power plant that I treasure very highly. It is built on scale and patterned after the big ones used in saw-mills and for other commercial uses. The boiler is a H.A.R.T. type, 11' x 26', with 16 1' tubes. It has Dutch oven for firing with sawdust. The boiler setting is steel-encased an a lined with Kast-Set Refractory. There are two small steam engines. One is a remodeled Crators Pop Corn engine driving a small electric generator for light. The other engine is a 2' bore x 2' stroke Stuart 5A model engine. It drives a small rotary air compressor. I am enclosing a photograph of this model.

I have no traction engines at this time but hope to get one one of these days. I have a few stationary engines and one small boiler. Also, I am hoping to build a steam tractor. It will be mounted on rubber wheels and have a twin engine. This engine will be about 8 or 10 H.P.

I would like to say a few words in regard to the trend of gasoline and diesel power versus steam power. It is my opinion that gasoline and diesel are more economical than steam because they do not take the manpower. However, as far as power is concerned, they do not compare with steam. Also, all the noise is unbearable!

Furthermore, they are trying to build horns to imitate the steam whistle but up until now they haven't made anything to compare with the old steam quill.

In conclusion I wish to say that I have had my ups and downs in the saw-mill and threshing career, but as of now. I am having the time of my life. In other words living a 'life of Riley'.

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